South East Melbourne Phoenix’s confidence in Mitch Creek to steer the franchise to a maiden NBL grand final
Boomers forward Mitch Creek is the key to the South East Melbourne Phoenix beating minor premiers Melbourne United in Tuesday’s NBL semi-final.
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South East Melbourne star Mitch Creek possesses the potent game to power the Phoenix past Melbourne United and into the NBL grand final series.
That is the opinion of Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell, who has urged Creek to maintain his aggressive approach in Tuesday’s deciding semi-final against United.
The Boomers forward will head into Game 3 full of confidence after producing a dominant effort in a 90-79 Game 2 win on Sunday to level the series.
Creek finished with a game-high 26 points, including a brilliant 9-0 personal run when the scores were locked at 77 during the fourth quarter.
The impressive display also highlights the forward’s mental strength after struggling with foul trouble in an 18-point Game 1 loss.
Mitchell now wants Creek to maintain the rage in Game 3 against United knowing that the minor premiers will come out firing with a grand final berth on the line.
“That is Mitch at his best and the one that we have to implore to come out,” Mitchell said about Creek, who has endured a tough season mentally after having charges withdrawn for allegedly assaulting a woman last November.
“He was phenomenal.
“That was a big moment and he played big in a big moment, and that is a real credit to him.
“I’m really proud of him and what he has been able to achieve because I didn’t like his game (in Game 1). He got the early fouls, which inhibited him a little bit, and then there was a bit of self-preservation where he was a little cautious and didn’t want to pick up fouls or play defence at the level that he can.
“But in Game 2 it was classic Mitch Creek, and he threw caution to the wind and attacked the rim.”
South East Melbourne relied heavily on the “hurt” from a big Game 1 loss to beat United in Game 2 on Sunday.
Mitchell knows the Phoenix must continue the momentum to defeat the league favourites again.
“Now it is our job as a coaching staff and playing group to maintain that attitude,” he said.
“They (United) are a tremendous basketball team. They have a lot of talent; gifted athletes and they will come back twice as hard, and we’ve got to make sure that we can sustain the energy we had in Game 2.”
Phoenix forward Yannick Wetzell is wary of a strong United response in the deciding Game 3 on Tuesday.
“So, we’ve got to come out with the same mentality like we’ve been smacked by 20 again,” Wetzell said.
“We came out firing and aggressive. Our energy and effort was at an all-time high, so that is how we’ve got to treat Game 3.
“It is going to be a dogfight.”
Phoenix take on United in Game 3 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday from 7.30pm.
Originally published as South East Melbourne Phoenix’s confidence in Mitch Creek to steer the franchise to a maiden NBL grand final
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